Alpine voters defeat $5 million bond

ALPINE — A proposed $5 million city bond was defeated soundly. Some 1,616 voted against the measure, while 536 voted for it. The bond money would have been used to buy approximately 150 acres of undeveloped land in the North Fort Canyon area. The land is part of an 800-acre subdivision that has already been approved.

Concerns have been raised in the rapidly developing city about preserving the open space and views that attracted so many residents in the first place.

Alpine's population nearly doubled between 1990 and 2000, but growth has leveled off in recent years. In 2000, the population was 7,146, while the 2004 population estimate is 7,896.

Maintaining public access to the Uinta National Forest on a public road that goes through the area was also a concern.

Some city officials had expressed support for the idea behind the bond but said the process began late and did not get very much information about the details of the bond to the public. Supporters attempted to counteract that in recent weeks by sending informative fliers to Alpine residents.

The initiative would have paid back the bond over a 20-year period by raising property taxes $50 per $100,000 of assessed value.